Ange Postecoglou has been sacked as Tottenham manager 16 days after leading them to victory in the Europa League final.
A 1-0 win over Manchester United in Bilbaobrought Spurs a first major trophy for 17 years.
However, it came towards the end of their worst Premier League season, with the London club finishing 17th after losing 22 of their 38 matches.
The Australian told fans “season three is better than season two” as they gathered at a victory parade to mark European success in his second campaign.
But the 59-year-old’s time in north London has ended two years to the day after Spurs announced he would join them from Celtic on a four-year contract.
Brentford boss Thomas Frank has been tipped as a leading contender to replace Postecoglou. Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola, Fulham’s Marco Silva, Crystal Palace’s Oliver Glasner and former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino – now managing the United States – are among the other candidates to have been considered.
Spurs said in a statement Postecoglou would be remembered for delivering “one of the club’s greatest moments” in becoming only the third manager to win them a European trophy.
But they added they could not base their decision on “emotions aligned to this triumph” and felt a change was necessary after a “review of performances”.
Tottenham finished fifth in Postecoglou’s first season in charge before he kept his promise to provide silverware in his second year.
“The opportunity to lead one of England’s historic football clubs and bring back the glory it deserves will live with me for a lifetime,” he said in a statement.
“That night in Bilbao was the culmination of two years of hard work, dedication and unwavering belief in a dream.
“There were many challenges to overcome and plenty of noise that comes with trying to accomplish what many said was not possible.”
Of managers with 100 or more games in charge of the club, Postecoglou ranks with a 46.5% win percentage from 101 matches in all competitions (47 wins, 15 draws and 39 losses).
Postecoglou pays price for slide in form
Tottenham’s decision to sack the man who guided them to a first trophy since 2008 will divide opinion across their fanbase.
He becomes the fourth Spurs manager – after Jose Mourinho, Nuno Espirito Santo and Antonio Conte – to lose his job since Pochettino was sacked in November 2019, less than four months after taking them to the Champions League final.
Former Australia boss Postecoglou’s reign began in spectacular fashion, despite the exit of the club’s all-time leading scorer Harry Kane to Bayern Munich.
Spurs set the pace in the early stages of the 2023-24 Premier League season by taking 26 points from their first 10 games, with Postecoglou winning three consecutive manager of the month awards.
But five defeats in their final seven matches cost them a spot in the Champions League 12 months ago, and things continued to unravel in 2024-25 after a slow start to the season.
Postecoglou, who was initially praised for the attacking style he implemented, was forced to defend himself from criticism for sticking to his principles and had to contend with a catalogue of injuries to key players.
Aside from their run to the Carabao Cup semi-finals, where they were thrashed 4-0 by Liverpool after taking a slender one-goal lead to Anfield, they have struggled in domestic competition.
Since 6 November 2023, Spurs have collected 78 points from 66 top-flight games – the 16th best record in the Premier League over that time.
While Tottenham scored 64 goals in the season just gone – as many as fourth-placed Chelsea and more than Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest in sixth and seventh – they conceded 65 with only Wolves and the relegated trio of Leicester City, Ipswich Town and Southampton conceding more.
What did Postecoglou say?
Postecoglou’s unwavering belief in himself and his forthright – sometimes blunt – approach has been a feature of his spell at Tottenham.
He accused a reporter of discounting the impact of injuries on his side’s results after a 6-3 home defeat by Liverpool, and repeatedly insisted he would not alter his style.
Postecoglou also publicly described Timo Werner’s performance as “not acceptable” after replacing him at half-time during a 1-1 Europa League draw at Rangers.
There were elements of that abrasiveness in the statement his representatives released after his sacking, which read:
“When I reflect on my time as manager of Tottenham Hotspur my overriding emotion is one of pride.
“The opportunity to lead one of England’s historic football clubs and bring back the glory it deserves will live with me for a lifetime.
“Sharing that experience with all those who truly love this club and seeing the impact it had on them is something I will never forget.
“That night in Bilbao was the culmination of two years of hard work, dedication and unwavering belief in a dream. There were many challenges to overcome and plenty of noise that comes with trying to accomplish what many said was not possible.
“We have also laid foundations that mean this club should not have to wait 17 more years for their next success. I have enormous faith in this group of players and know there is much more potential and growth in them.
“I sincerely want to thank those who are the lifeblood of the club, the supporters. I know there were some difficult times but I always felt that they wanted me to succeed and that gave me all the motivation I needed to push on.
“It’s important to acknowledge the hard working people at Spurs who gave me encouragement on a daily basis.
“And finally, I want to thank those who were with me every day for the last two years. A fantastic group of young men who are now legends of this football club and the brilliant coaches who never once doubted we could do something special.
“We are forever connected. Audere est Facere. Ange.”
What did Tottenham say?
Tottenham’s statement read: “Following a review of performances and after significant reflection, the club can announce that Ange Postecoglou has been relieved of his duties.
“Ange joined us from Celtic in the summer of 2023 and oversaw a period of change on the pitch, returning us to the attacking brand of football that has traditionally been associated with the club, while writing a new chapter in our history by leading us to Uefa Europa League glory in Bilbao last month – an achievement that will live with us all forever.
“We are extremely grateful to Ange for his commitment and contribution during his two years at the club. Ange will always be remembered as only the third manager in our history to deliver a European trophy, alongside legendary figures Bill Nicholson and Keith Burkinshaw.
“However, the board has unanimously concluded that it is in the best interests of the club for a change to take place. Following a positive start in the 2023-24 Premier League season, we recorded 78 points from the last 66 PL games. This culminated in our worst-ever PL finish last season.
“At times there were extenuating circumstances – injuries and then a decision to prioritise our European campaign. Whilst winning the Europa League this season ranks as one of the club’s greatest moments, we cannot base our decision on emotions aligned to this triumph.
“It is crucial that we are able to compete on multiple fronts and believe a change of approach will give us the strongest chance for the coming season and beyond. This has been one of the toughest decisions we have had to make and is not a decision that we have taken lightly, nor one we have rushed to conclude. We have made what we believe is the right decision to give us the best chance of success going forward, not the easy decision.
“We have a talented, young squad and Ange has given us a great platform to build upon. We should like to express our gratitude to him. We wish him well for the future – he will always be welcome back at our home.
“News on the appointment of a new Head Coach will be announced in due course.”